KL Desk
Srinagar
The central government is likely to turn down the request of family of Afzal Guru, who was hanged and buried in Tihar jail, for handing over his body.
A senior Home Ministry official is reported to have said that a final decision in this regard will be taken soon and the Jammu and Kashmir government will be informed about it.
The state government had forwarded a letter sent by Tabassum, wife of Parliament attack convict Afzal, to Deputy Commissioner of Baramulla in North Kashmir demanding handing over of his body.
The Home Ministry official is reported to have in New Delhi that Afzal was buried inside Tihar jail complex in line with the prison manual and the government has no plans to hand over the body considering various aspects, including the law and order situation in the state.
Various outfits including main opposition party in Jammu and Kashmir PDP and separatist groups have been demanding handing over the body of Afzal, who was hanged on February 9, after his conviction in the 2001 Parliament attack case.
The Kashmir Valley was agog with rumours on Sunday that Afzal’s body had arrived and was being buried in the cover of darkness. The news spread through social networking sites.
